Sars Situation Causes Trepidation

THE AL SIDE

April 27, 2003|By JACK O'CONNELL; Courant Staff Writer

The Royals have been playing well but the concern over the SARS outbreak in Toronto, where it has been the most extensive in North America, has played heavily on their minds this weekend. With more than 300 suspected cases and 19 deaths linked to it in the Toronto area, the Royals and Blue Jays had cause for trepidation.

Despite the World Health Organization's alert to travelers to avoid coming to Ontario, commissioner Bud Selig is not ready to cancel or move games, which was suggested last week by Angels pitcher Kevin Appier. Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association are monitoring the situation closely. MLB vice president Sandy Alderson and Gene Orza, the union's associate general counsel, were in Toronto for the weekend series.

Although Blue Jays officials said the WHO's warning was an overreaction, players were cautioned against shaking hands and signing autographs while at SkyDome. Blue Jays shortstop Mike Bordick, pitcher Cory Lidle and outfielder Frank Catalanotto canceled arrangements for family members to join them in Toronto after completing a trip that took them to New York, Boston and St. Petersburg, Fla. The Blue Jays' homestand runs through May 4.

The Royals, who do not stay at the SkyDome Hotel but rather the Toronto Hilton, took the short ride to the park Friday night and planned to stay close together. The team set up a recreational room at the hotel so players did not have to go into the city. Plans also called for a dinner after Saturday's game for the entire travel party at the hotel restaurant.

The epidemic has cut into the Blue Jays' already meager attendance and threatens to do so throughout the summer if travelers indeed alter plans to come to Toronto. Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey has estimated a loss of 10,000 ticket sales and is using the team's website to assure fans there is no health risk in coming to SkyDome. Still, the Jays drew 16,417 Friday night, their largest SkyDome crowd since the season opener.

Sasaki's Struggles

Mariners closer Kazu Sasaki is off to such a rough start the reaction toward him at Safeco Field is similar to the negative taunts Mets closer Armando Benitez has been hearing at Shea Stadium. Sasaki is away from the heat at this point because he is on the disabled list because of lower back soreness. The talk-radio crowd has had a field day with Sasaki, who was the AL rookie of the year in 2000. He was an important figure on a team that won a league-record 116 games in 2001 but who this year blew four of his first 10 save opportunities, matching Benitez. Scouts have detected a noticeable drop in velocity in Sasaki's fastball, now well under 90 mph and less drop on his splitter. Mariners manager Bob Melvin says the righthander's problems could be related to his back ailment, but the reality is that Sasaki, 35, is not a kid. He has been closing games here and in Japan for the past 12 seasons, which is a long time in that demanding role. In the meantime, Melvin will use lefthander Arthur Rhodes and righthander Jeff Nelson to close games.

Taming The Rowdies

Don't blame the Royals for feeling shell-shocked on the road. It was while Kansas City was in Chicago April 15-17 that fans interrupted play four times by running on the field, in one case assaulting an umpire. Baseball and city officials hope matters remained calm this weekend despite the appearance of the Twins, whose first baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz, has been the loudest in suggesting that the All-Star Game be taken away from the White Sox who will host the midsummer classic July 15. White Sox general manager Ken Williams said of Mientkiewicz, ``He doesn't have to worry about making the All-Star Game anyway.''

Typical A's Start

Athletics general manager Billy Beane is not concerned about his team's 14-10 start, and for good reason. The A's started 12-10 last season. They went on to win 103 games and the AL West. ``Based on previous year, I'd say we were red hot,'' Beane joked to reporters. The A's also won the division in 2000 after starting 9-13. It was worse in 2001 -- 8-13 -- yet Oakland ended up with 102 victories and a wild card berth. But the poor start of MVP shortstop Miguel Tejada, who is hitting .168 with four homers and 13 RBI, bears watching.

Oates Stays Positive

Sad news in Virginia: Former Rangers and Orioles manager Johnny Oates, who has given a valiant effort against brain cancer since October 2001, was recently diagnosed with two inoperable tumors in his brain that will be treated with oral chemotherapy. Oates has already undergone extensive radiation treatment following his November 2001 surgery. ``We're just trying a new direction,'' Oates told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's T.R. Sullivan. ``I'm feeling great. I'm doing everything I pretty much want to. I just can't use my legs too much.'' Oates, co-winner with the Yankees' Joe Torre of the AL manager of the year in 1996 after leading Texas to its first division title in 35 years, was inducted into the Virginia Hall of Fame Saturday along with former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and former University of Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland.